Jefferson Pooley, a professor of media and communication at Muhlenberg College, dives into the fascinating 1959 Kitsch debate during the Cold War. He illuminates the clash between Nixon and Khrushchev over cultural values, revealing the nuances of mass culture and its critics. Pooley discusses the implications of mid-cult versus high culture, highlighting Dwight Macdonald's controversial views and his unproduced essay 'America, America.' The conversation also explores the tension between consumerism, kitsch awareness, and the evolving role of media in shaping public perception.
The 1959 mass culture conference highlighted a cultural showdown on American identity, framing the 'Kitsch Debate' as pivotal in addressing Cold War propaganda concerns.
Edward Shills reframed kitsch as a sign of evolving public aesthetic sensibilities, challenging critics like Dwight MacDonald who deemed mass culture as devoid of value.
Deep dives
The Role of Listener Support
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The Kitsch Debate of 1959
A key focus of the episode is the 1959 mass culture conference, which presented a significant cultural showdown during the Cold War. This event was characterized by a clash between critics and defenders of American mass culture, encapsulated in what is referred to as the 'Kitsch Debate.' Scholars and cultural figures, including notable intellectuals, gathered to assess the impact of mass culture on society while contending with critiques of American cultural values. Edward Shills, a prominent sociologist, played a vital role in steering discussions that aimed to mitigate concerns regarding mass culture's perceived threats to high culture.
Edward Shills and Propaganda
Edward Shills emerged as a key figure shaping the discourse on mass culture, suggesting that critics' fears were exaggerated and unfounded. He characterized kitsch, often dismissed as lower culture, as an indicator of emerging aesthetic sensibilities among the public. This perspective elevated the debate regarding popular culture, positioning it as a potential catalyst for cultural engagement rather than merely a medium of corruption. Shills’ arguments underscored a deeper agenda linked to Cold War propaganda strategies, asserting that defending American mass culture was essential in countering anti-American sentiment.
Critiques of American Mass Culture
The episode delves into the tensions between Dwight MacDonald and cultural figures like Shills, showcasing a rift regarding American identity and cultural integrity. MacDonald is cited as a critical voice who viewed mass culture as a threat to higher artistic standards, suggesting that it produced nothing of significant value. His arguments were met with resistance; many contemporaries viewed his critiques as overly dismissive of the cultural fabric. Ultimately, these differing positions illustrate a broader ideological battle over the nature and influence of mass culture in American society.
In the summer of 1959, Nixon and Khrushchev argued over a washing machine in a backstage kitchen in Moscow, while American Cold War intellectuals gathered in the Poconos to defend Kitsch. Dwight Macdonald, whose theory of mass culture translated too easily into Anti-Americanism, was barred from participating because this was no ordinary mass culture conference; it was an Anti Anti-Americanism operation. Meanwhile, in London, Dwight Macdonald delivered a mass culture lecture of his own called "America, America,” based on the most famous article Encounter magazine never published.
Support ToE and get access to the incredible exclusive bonus companion series to Not All Propaganda is Art by subscribing at https://theoryofeverything.supercast.com/, or subscribe directly in Apple Podcasts by hitting “Subscribe” right on the show page.
Support ToE and get access to the incredible exclusive bonus companion series to Not All Propaganda is Art by subscribing athttps://theoryofeverything.supercast.com/, or subscribe directly in Apple Podcasts by hitting “Subscribe” right on the show page.
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